School Blog

Sierra Nevada will host the first Snow Running World Championship on February 4 and 5, 2022 with the participation of the best runners of this emerging discipline of mountain races.

The first snow running world championship will consist of two races; the first, called SkySnow Running Vertical, will be held at dawn on February 4 with a route of 4.3 kilometers with 950 meters of vertical ascent to 3.050 meters of altitude. The second, SkySnow Running Classic, will be held at nightfall on February 5 on a line of 12.7 kilometers and a vertical climb of 925 meters.

The designation of Sierra Nevada came after the Spanish Federation of Mountaineering and Climbing presented the candidacy of Granada ski station - where official races of this discipline have been held since 2012. The landscape characteristics of the route, which runs through the ski area, have made it the largest snow running event in Europe for several years.

We offer Spanish course programmes for secondary schools all year round. Spanish lessons take place in the morning from Monday to Friday. Students participate generally in 4 lessons of 45 minutes per day. The level groups have a maximum of 10 students.

The morning classes are complemented with daily cultural activities, such as guided visits to the Alhambra and the old Arabic quarter Albaicín. Our groups visit a Flamenco performance with dinner at the Sacromonte and go for a guided trip to the coast during the weekend.

If they wish so, we can organize a guided hike in one of the natural parks in Granada Province. The area around Granada often ranks highly as a choice of venues. One of the main attractions of this beautiful area is the wide variety of landscapes that are available within a very short distance. It is an ideal area for combining a Spanish course with walking holidays.

Do you want to learn Spanish and complement your language course with guided hikes? Hiking in Sierra Nevada, Spain is an experience any lover of nature should have while in Andalucia. The area around Granada often ranks highly as a choice of venues. One of the main attractions of this beautiful area is the wide variety of landscapes that are available within a very short distance.

With time enough, the city offers an unequaled eco-tourism offer. At a short distance, you can enjoy natural sites such as Cahorros, Vereda de la Estrella, Cañada del Sereno in the Natural Park of Sierra de Huétor, routes to understand the water cycle of the Alhambra and much more! You can select from a wide range of walking challenges from very easy to extremely difficult.

The Sierra Nevada National Park offers wonderful views around almost every corner and is one of the highest mountain ranges in Europe. The highest peak is the Mulhacén, which reaches 3478 meters. This and other peaks obviously mean that the Sierra Nevada is an outstanding destination for winter sports such as skiing. What's interesting is that Andalucia remains mild and sunny throughout the winter; while at the same time the Sierra Nevada gets covered in snow.

Visit our website for further informaton about our hiking offers

The Sierra de Huétor and la Alfaguara Natural Park is relatively small and covers 12,127 hectares. It was designated a natural park in 1989 and is characterized by its incredible diversity. Geographically, the limestone bedrock has produced some spectacular ravines, steep cliffs and is home to some of Andalucia's most impressive caves, such as the Cueva del Agua.

The altitude differences are relatively minor when compared to its neighbour, the Sierra Nevada National Park, with heights that range from 1100m to almost 1700m. The highest point being the Cerro Buenavista which stands at 1675m high.

The remains of trenches and fortifications bear witness to the battles that were fought here during the Spanish Civil war. The Cerro de Maúllo was the front line between the Republicans and Nationalists for many years.

Our teacher Paco organized a fantastic hiking tour in the Sierra de Huétor Santillán Natural Parque:

Located above a thousand metres above sea level, Huétor Santillán is part of a mountain range which bears its name and forms the Parque Natural de la Sierra de Huétor. This protected area is surrounded by diverse landscapes, including Mediterranean mountains, canyons, forests of oak and maple trees.

The town is of Arab origin and offers a broad range of outdoor activities, including hiking and cycling. This area is hugely popular among locals and visitors that come here to relax surrounded by nature.

Huétor Santillán has some beautiful places nearby including the Fuente de la Mora, the famous Venta del Molinillo and Prado Negro Village, as well as the sources of the Río Darro and the Río Fardes. Their waters come from the same mountain range, and meet the Río Genil and Río Guadiana Menor respectively.

Then check the tours with Sierra y Sol! One or half day hiking trips around Granada in Andalusia, for those who want to get off the beaten path and like the real natural experience.

Whether you have a day in the south of Spain, do not miss this opportunity to follow your inner adventurer and explore the Natural Parks in Granada.

With our partner company Sierra y Sol you still can enjoy springtime in Andalusia, even with the COVID-19 restrictions.

Check the next tours on the Sierra y Sol Website!

ONE OF THE BEST HIKING TOURS CLOSE TO GRANADA CITY
The Cumbres Verdes (Green Peaks) are well known to the locals as they are very close to Granada city center, so access is easy. In spite of this the walking is quiet and unspoilt and has a certain attraction missing in the higher and wilder Sierra Nevada.

Lush green valleys fight with arid badlands for possession of the land and this gives varied and interesting scenery and views.

Today our teacher Paco has organized a tour to Las Arenales and Dilar Valley.
A circular walk of contrast and delights is one of the 'not to be missed' walks in the Cumbres Verdes area. The arid dryness of the rocky peak of Trevenque and Las Arenales contrast greatly with the green lushness of the upper Dilar valley and gorge.

His destination was: The Cahorros Gorge in Monachil village.

With its wild flowers, almonds, the cascading river and lavender, thyme and rosemary, the lush Monachil valley is a beautiful area for hiking. Our students love the hanging bridges and the dramatic gorge, and this walk is particularly recommended when the flowers are out in spring.

We choose this walk, because it is suitable for most people. There are some sections where the group has to scramble under overhanging rock along the side of the gorge. It's an unforgettable adventure! There are metal handles set into the rock to help hikers past. It isn't a difficult route to follow.

The walk starts in the village of Monachil, following the river up through the gorge, then returning by a higher route, from which we get a good view of the whole valley.

Even if we can only move inside the municipality of Granada because of the pandemic, our city offers very beautiful trails near the city center. Today we propose a walk to the following area:

This walk explores the Llano de la Perdiz, an area of parkland above the Alhambra in Granada popular with locals for walking, cycling, and Sunday picnics.

You very soon leave the city behind, replacing it with views across to the Sierra Nevada to the south-east and the Sierra de Huétor to the north.

The return part of the circuit offers views down into the Sacromonte valley and the Albaicín quarter of Granada.

They offer guided hiking & trekking tours led by experienced local experts through the Natural Parks and cultural heritage areas of the mountains of southern Spain.

The charismatic force behind Sierra y Sol is Teresa Madrona: professor, mountain sports enthusiast, hiking club organizer and ecologist. Teresa is an experienced teacher and passionate about sharing her knowledge of Andalusian cultural and natural history with her students and visitors of Spain. Teresa began teaching high school Biology and Geology in the late 80s, and 11 years later founded her own ecological consulting business. She is currently a professor of Biology at the University of Granada. Throughout her life she has avidly pursued hiking and mountaineering in the mountains of her homeland and abroad (the Rif and Atlas Mountains of Morocco and the Alps in Switzerland), and has organized hundreds of hiking trips and excursions for BUXUS, an ecologically focused hiking organization.

For further information visit: www.sierraysol.com